Going from married filing separate to joing with a state refund and a state payment from 2021

[ptallman]

Last year we filed MFS and ended up with 2 different outcomes for state withholding.  I received a refund and my husband owed.   We're in Idaho

This year we want to file MFJ and am not sure how to handle listing the "refund."  When I pull info over, it only brings my refund over (I started from my 2021 return to bring info to this year and then added my husband's info as new).  Do I leave the refund as is or do I net his payment with my refund?

I hope that's clear...

[DianeW777]

It depends.  If both of you itemized deductions last year then you should include both refunds on the joint return for 2022.  By the way, if one of you itemized deductions in 2021, on a married filing separate return both are required to use itemized deductions.

If neither of you itemized your deductions in 2021, you can disregard the state refunds received in 2022.

[ptallman]

Ok - we didn't itemize.  He had to pay and I got a refund - TT is asking for the amount of the refund, so should I just enter the amount I was refunded?

[DMarkM1]

You can and then you will be asked if you itemized.  You answer you used the standard deduction and the amount will not be taxable.

The other alternative since you didn't itemize is don't enter the refund at all into TurboTax as it is not taxable.